Luke Douglas is set to miss the Gold Coast Titans season opener

GOLD Coast prop Luke Douglas faces missing the opening match of the season after being hit with a careless high tackle charge.

Luke Douglas in action during Titans training at Pizzey Park, Burleigh. Pics Adam Head

HE holds the NRL record for the most consecutive games played but Gold Coast Titans ironman Luke Douglas is now facing a judiciary suspension for the first time.

Douglas was on Monday hit with a careless high tackle charge stemming from Saturday’s trial game against the Eels in Alice Springs.

If he pleads guilty, Douglas will only receive 67 points (100 are needed to miss a week) but he has 75 carry-over points from last season.

The NRL confirmed any suspension would be served in Round 1 of the season, meaning Douglas couldn’t sit out this weekend’s trial against South Sydney instead.

Douglas broke Jason Taylor’s record of 194 consecutive appearances in 2014 and made his way to 215 straight games before accepting a suspension from ASADA which ended his streak.

He continued his amazing run last year, playing all 24 matches of the season for the Titans before undergoing toe surgery in the off-season.

Titans coach Neil Henry is planning to field his strongest side against the Rabbitohs who are expected to play Sam Burgess for the first time in his return to the NRL.

“It’ll be a good gauge of where we’re at,” Henry said.

“Hopefully we can get some confidence and momentum heading into round one.”

Meanwhile, Titans hardman Greg Bird was cleared of serious damage to his cheek after suffering a head clash in the All Stars game but is in doubt for the Rabbitohs trial.

Originally published as Luke Douglas is set to miss the Gold Coast Titans season opener